ANTHRAX members Frank Bello (bass), Charlie Benante (drums) and Joey Belladonna (vocals) taped a four-minute public service announcement (PSA) for the Musicians Opposed To Bullying (M.O.B.) web site addressing the ever-growing problem of bullying, and especially cyber-bullying — the use of technology such as the Internet and phone texting to harass or humiliate others. Check it out below.

Bello: “I was bullied when I was young, living in upstate in New York. I was literally beat up every day I went to school. I was beat up by this tall dude. He was a bigger dude, he was muscular. He would beat me up and keep me under the car every day I went to school. I think [bullying] is for the weak. People that are insecure, people that don’t have good home lives and are taking it out on other people. I think it’s wrong. I think it’s wrong and it’s gotta stop.”

Benante: “The reason why bullying has gotten really out of hand now is because of Facebooks and everything like that. You can post something about someone and it can reach hundreds of thousands of people. I just don’t think the kids that are being bullied — and this is just me saying it — I don’t think you should take it [so] hard [sa to] wanna end your life because of it. This is just a moment in your life. You have so much more of your life. So if someone is bullying you you and no one is listening to you about the bullying, go somewhere else, go to a higher [authority figure].”

Bello: “The guys that are bullying you, the people that are bullying you — girls, guys, whoever it may be — they’re feeling so badly about themselves, they have to take it on somebody else; that’s how they get it out. You have to understand that and be smarter and be somebody above them. ‘Cause these people are feeling at a low point in their life and that’s how it comes out of them. I’m not talking about forgiveness. You have to take yourself and rise above it. ‘Cause this will pass. You have to understand that. I made it pass and you can make it pass also.”

Benante: “Suicide is not the answer for that. I really think that taking it to a higher level, changing schools is more important than you checking out of life. For all of us, there was always an escape — music was an escape, art was an escape.”

Bello: “And don’t be afraid to tell… Whether you have a good relationship with your parents or you don’t, you have a guidance counselor in school, you have a principal. I was close to my principal in school. When I was getting bullied, I talked to him, and he acted as a confidant. And he told me what to do; it was very secretive. You can do it all in secret. Don’t feel like there is no way out; there is a way out. And it’s not suicide. It’s absolutely not suicide. Get rid of these lowlives in your life, man. I’m telling you. There’s a long life ahead of you.”

HELLYEAH has announced that it will play the remaining dates of its current tour without guitarist Greg Tribbett, who has had to return home due to a family emergency. The band has been on a successful tour with CLUTCH since April 13.

Commented HELLYEAH singer Chad Gray: “We all stand with our brother Greg while he tends to personal matters. Our thoughts are with him and his family, and while the shows won’t be the same without him, we will soldier on for our fans and close out this tour in the same kick ass fashion we always do.

“There’s a lyric in our new song ‘Band Of Brothers’ that says, ‘I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine,’ and that couldn’t be more true for us right now.”

HELLYEAH will perform the following dates as a four-piece, with Tom Maxwell taking over for Tribbett, as well as carrying on with his own guitar duties:

May 22 – Lynchburg, VA – Phase 2
May 24 – Indanapolis, IN – The Vogue
May 25 – Huntington, WV – V Club
May 27 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma
May 28 – El Paso, TX – Baloonfest

HELLYEAH‘s “Band Of Brothers” video can be seen below. The clip was filmed on March 26 at Loyal Studios in Burbank, California with director David Brodsky of MyGoodEye, who has previously worked with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, GOATWHORE, MUNICIPAL WASTE and SUFFOCATION, among many others.

“Band Of Brothers” is the title track of HELLYEAH‘s third album, which will be released on July 17 via the band’s new label home, Eleven Seven Music. The CD was recorded in Dallas, Texas at Vinnie Paul‘s home studio, VP’s Upstairs Studio, and was produced by the band and Jeremy Parker (GODSMACK, EVANESCENCE), who also served as engineer.

“Band Of Brothers” track listing:

01. War In Me
02. Band Of Brothers
03. Rage/Burn
04. Drink Drank Drunk
05. Bigger God
06. Between You And Nowhere
07. Call It
08. Why Does It Always
09. WM Free
10. Dig Myself A Hole
11. What It Takes To Be Me

Published by rbtaleman

Heavy metal (fiend/friend?) Writer, frustrat(or), frustrat(ee), decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Husband(twice), father(three times), grandfather(of seven), FM radio veteran, Concertgoer, music collector, muscle car aficianado. Grown up since five. Child since 45. View all posts by rbtaleman